Heat producing package



Jan. 13, 1970 A ETAL 3,489,689

- HEAT PRODUCING PACKAGE Filed Feb. 10. 1967 FIG! INVENTORS ALBERT H. TAO

i ERNEST T. FRONCZAK BY gm, W M QM,

MiWcZM ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,489,689 HEAT PRODUCING PACKAGE Albert H. Tao, Evanston, and Ernest T. Fronczak, Crystal Lake, Ill., assignors to Simoniz Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 615,101 Int. Cl. C09k 3/00; C101 5/00 US. Cl. 252157 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Compositions containing aluminum and alkali metal hydroxide for reacting in water to produce chemical heat and physical agitation are well known in the prior art. Such compositions are sold commercially for cleaning fat clogged drains and other purposes Where they also convert the fat to easily removable soap. In such compositions the presence of water causes the aluminum and the alkali metal hydroxide to react. In the present invention the aluminum that is required, or at least a part thereof, is in the container which holds the alkali metal hydroxide. This container may either be provided with masked openings for the entrance of the water after the mask is removed or may be rupturable such as by punching with a sharp instrument for the entrance of water when the package is added to the water.

Aluminum and alkali metal hydroxide containing compositions for reacting in the presence of water are well known in the prior art. A typical early patent is Smith 1,019,377. A later patent is Walton 2,773,040.

Two embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a package according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is similar to FIGURE 1 but illustrates a second embodiment.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 1 the package is in the form of a container comprised of aluminum with the package being provided with a plurality of openings 11 for the entrance of water when the package is deposited in a water containing drain. Prior to use, these openings 11 are masked by a removable closure 12 such as a strip of pressure sensitive tape. Contained within the package 10 is in composition comprising alkali metal hydroxide in an amount that is at least that theoretically required to react in water with the aluminum of the container 10.

FIGURE 2 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the package 13 is a different shape and in which the container is adapted to be pierced by a sharp instrument such as a fork, ice pick or the like. In

this embodiment also, the container of the package comprises aluminum such as aluminum foil.

In preferred instances the aluminum is present in about 2-10% by weight of the entire article including the alkali metal hydroxide.

A convenient size of package embodying the invention for use in common household drain cleaning is a 1 /2 ounce package containing 4 to 5 grams of aluminum. In specific embodiments this package was in the form of 10 a tube 10 or a fiat package 13 and with the interior of the package containing 57.20% by weight of fine flake sodium hydroxide, 12.35% of 58% light grade soda ash and 30.45% natural chilean nitrate.

Although the above examples show that chemicals in addition to the alkali metal hydroxide may be used, these are not absolutely required, as the necessary ingredients are the alkali metal hydroxide within the container and the aluminum forming a part of if not the entire container. In each of the embodiments of FIGURES 1 and 2 the container was actually constructed of aluminum foil to produce a 1 /2 ounce package containing 4 to 5 grams of aluminum, and thus the package was completely consumed in the reaction.

Having described our invention as related to the embodiments shown in the accompany drawings, it is our intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. A completely consumable package producing heat when added to water, consisting essentially of: an alkali metal hydroxide; and an enveloping container consisting essentially of aluminum containing openings or which is rupturable and in which said hydroxide is located in an amount that is at least that theoretically required to react in water with the aluminum of said container to produce said heat, said aluminum being present in an amount of about 210'% by weight of said article.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein said aluminum container is provided with openings for the entrance of said water.

3. The package of claim 1 wherein said aluminum container is rupturable for the entrance of said water. 45

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LEON D. ROSDOL, Primary Examiner W. SCHULZ, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

